Friday, July 14, 2017

Victory News - Pray for God's Power

Dear Friends,

YouTube has been a game changer for me. I learned how to install a new video card in an old desktop computer by watching a video. I learned how to put new strings on my mandolin by watching a video. There is almost no limit to the number of things you can learn to do by watching a “How-to” video online. YouTube empowers me and makes me feel like I can do almost anything (so long as I can find a video of a twelve-year old showing me how via the internet!)

And yet is that true…that you can do anything you put your mind to doing?

Not exactly. This Sunday we’ll be looking at Psalm 51 in the Bible where we see that there are indeed some things, some really huge and important things!, that only God can do. And that’s why we need prayer. Prayer is acknowledged helplessness. At the same time prayer is acknowledging God’s power to do in us what we cannot do ourselves.

So please join me this Sunday at 8:30 or 10:15 as we continue our series Prayer Is Powerful. And in case you missed it, watch Pastor Bill’s inspiring sermon from this past Sunday on how God still continues to give us a blank check with prayer!

Evening Concert – Friday evening August 11th at 7pm at our ministry center, Chris Driesbach will be sharing his faith through song by putting on a concert and sharing his story of his journey from atheism to Christianity. At 6 pm before the concert I’ll have brats and hot dogs on the grill for anyone who wants to come early and enjoy some yummy food out in the parking lot with me. Read more about Chris Driesbach’s story here on the event page.

Bible 101 Class – A new Bible 101 group started this past Wednesday night for 6:30-8 pm. Will continue to meet the next 3 Wednesdays. Let me know if you still want to jump on board!

Congrats! – To Brett and Crystal whom I had the privilege of marrying last week and to Josh and Lauren whose wedding I’ll be officiating later this afternoon. May God’s picture perfect love continue to grow and flourish in your lives together.

Design Intern – We are very blessed that our very own Naomi Scheel will be able to serve 10 hrs a week this summer as a design intern. She will be helping to refresh our logo, redesign the look of our Bible 101-301 materials, and create new publicity pieces for our church as well as continue to work on our sermon series graphics, worship folders, etc.

More Than Bricks Update –Available online here. More Than Bricks (MTB) kicked off in December 2014 as a major funding campaign for our new Ministry Center, with a goal of $500,000. 80% of the money received ($400,000) is being used to reduce our mortgage debt and related expenses, and 20% ($100,000) is being used to support mission work in North Dakota, St. Lucia and Nepal.

Kingdom Workers – This week I had a meeting at the home office of Kingdom Workers here in Milwaukee exploring the potential for developing deeper relationships with mission partners such as we have in St Lucia.

Praise and Proclaim – helps Christians and congregations by training them on how to confidently and joyfully proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ with their community. I’m excited to share that we’ll be inviting Praise and Proclaim to VotL in October! You will all be invited to a training event on Friday evening, October 13th followed by a day of putting your training into practice on Saturday, October 14th. I’m sharing this now because it is my prayer that as many of you as possible would be able to attend and find joy in being equipped to share Christ’s victory! Stay tuned for more info over the next couple months.

Living Water Installation – This Sunday afternoon at 4 pm in a special service Pastor Aaron Voss will be installed as the new pastor of Living Water Lutheran Church just south of us on Loomis Rd. I will be attending to support Pastor Voss and our brothers and sisters in Christ at Living Water. They have been without a pastor for quite some time now and we rejoice with them that God has at last provided for them a new shepherd!

Pregnancy Counseling Center – I serve on the board of directors for WELS Lutherans For Life. The renovations and process of converting our building in West Allis to a medical clinic is moving along swiftly so that on-site ultrasound will be available by the end of the summer. This is very exciting so that we can serve more women with compassionate, quality, Christ-centered care! I serve on the board of directors and want to invite any of you who might be interested in volunteering time. Here are some of the different ways you might consider getting involved.

Get Some Exercise, Love Our Neighbors – Partnering with My Team Triumph, the Coventry group home we serve here in Franklin has become an official training site where people can come over and push the ladies in our special jogging strollers around the neighborhood. Every Wednesday at 5:30 pm from now through September and you are invited to participate by coming over to run or walk as we push the ladies around a one mile loop in the neighborhood. Find out more and sign up here on our website. Give it a try! You can go at your own pace. It’s a wonderful way also for a family to get some exercise together while loving and serving our neighbors.

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About Me

I'm just a guy who needs God's grace like everybody else. I'm the pastor of Victory of the Lamb--a church I've watched God grow from the ground up in Franklin, WI with the help of some amazing friends. This blog is mainly the story of what I think makes our church special, opportunities for you to grow in the Gospel, and once in a while whatever else I have time to share.